Your afternoon Briefing: Barnaby Joyce open to comeback

Good afternoon, readers. Barnaby Joyce open to returning as Nats leader and two of Australia’s new $100m F-35 strike fighters are faulty.

Good afternoon, readers. Barnaby Joyce is open to returning as National Party leader and two of Australia’s new $100m F-35 strike fighters are faulty.

Barnaby Joyce at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

Barnaby ‘open’ to comeback

Barnaby Joyce is open to returning as National Party leader — if he’s asked — but says he isn’t chasing votes to make it happen.

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 7, 2016, an F-35B Lightning II combat aircraft is seen on the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in Beaufort, South Carolina. - The Pentagon grounded the global fleet of F-35 stealth fighters on October 11, 2018, as a result of the first ever crash of the costliest plane in history. A US Marine Corps F-35B was completely destroyed in a crash during training in South Carolina on September 28. The pilot safely ejected. (Photo by JEFF J MITCHELL / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

Two new fighter jets faulty

Two of Australia’s new $100 million F-35 strike fighters have faulty tubes, with another seven cleared for takeoff.

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Britain's Prince Harry speaks to the community as his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex holds an umbrella under heavy rain in Australia's outback town of Dubbo on October 17, 2018. - The rain was a welcomed accompaniment when Harry and his expectant wife Meghan visited a drought-stricken region of Australia on October 17, where the prince commended resilient farmers for persisting through years-long dry spells. (Photo by PETER PARKS / Pool / AFP)

Dubbo goes bananas for royals

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were greeted with heartfelt hugs, then rain in drought-stricken Dubbo. And to top it all off, Meghan baked banana bread for the locals. See our photo gallery.

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Dave Sharma, candidates for the former Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull's federal seat of Wentworth debate the issues ahead of the crucial by-election this Saturday.Wentworth residents from the Residents Calling for Climate Action group in colourful sea creature costumes battle residents dressed as Scott Morrison, Tony Abbott in budgie smugglers and coal lobby suits will protest outside the Wentworth candidates.

Sharma under fire over flyer

Liberal candidate Dave Sharma has come under fire from a senior Jewish community leader for printing an unauthorised endorsement from him on Wentworth campaign flyers.

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19/01/2017: Chief executive officer at the Financial Services Council, Sally Loane, is speaking to The Australian about her year in the job and the challenges ahead for 2017 in superannuation and life insurance. Photographed at their Sydney offices on Thursday. Hollie Adams/The Australian

No quitting after horror grilling

Former journalist Sally Loane says she never considered resigning after her excruciating turn in Ken Hayne’s hot seat.